What a stunning example of cast-iron architecture the Bennett Building is. Right before you stands a masterpiece of the French Second Empire style. This ten-story giant isn’t just a pretty face. It boasts the largest known cast-iron facade in the world. A true marvel.
The Bennett Building’s story begins with James Gordon Bennett Jr. He commissioned this project in 1872 as a shrewd investment. The original design by Arthur D Gilman was seven stories tall. The top floor was a stylish mansard roof. A common feature of Second Empire buildings. But that roof didn’t last.
In 1889 real estate investor John Pettit bought the building. He hired James M Farnsworth. Farnsworth’s task was to expand the Bennett Building. The mansard roof was removed. Four more floors and a penthouse were added. An eleven-story annex appeared on Ann Street in 1894. The expansions cleverly matched Gilman’s original design. A testament to architectural harmony.
The Bennett Building’s location is prime real estate. It sits in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District. It faces Nassau Fulton and Ann Streets. The building originally had four entrances. They were beautifully decorated with columns and entablatures. Modernizations in the 1980s reduced the entrances to three. A main entrance a second-story entrance and a freight entrance.
Think about the Bennett Building’s innovative construction. The lower six stories of the original structure are load-bearing walls. The rest are non-bearing. This was unusual for the time. Cast-iron was typically used for only one curtain wall. Most buildings were shorter. The Bennett Building pushed boundaries.
Imagine the early tenants. The 1873 New York Herald advertisement boasted of a $125000 annual rent roll. The building attracted insurance mercantile brokerage and legal firms. Banks and insurance companies occupied the second floor. It even had two high-speed elevators for its time. This was quite advanced technology.
The Bennett Building’s history is filled with intriguing twists. Pettit the real estate magnate vanished in 1898. His disappearance added mystery to the Bennett Building’s already captivating tale. The building changed hands several times. It survived economic downturns and architectural trends.
In 1995 the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission recognized its importance. They designated the Bennett Building a city landmark. It’s also part of the Fulton-Nassau Historic District. A national treasure it truly is. So next time you’re in the Financial District. Take a moment to admire the Bennett Building. It’s a story in stone and iron. A legacy that continues to amaze.